Recently, I finished a few design projects for a client. 2 static websites, an ebay template and an ebook cover. I decided to bill the client for it because we really needed the money but, unfortunately, my client said I still need to finish the rest before getting paid. I asked how many more and he sent a list of work to do which, including the first 4, totals 13 jobs. The jobs include designing and creating websites, brochures and graphics designs. He priced all 13 jobs at $250 and if you divide that to 13 will give you less than $20 per job. On that list, I can understand that 1 or 2 or even 3 are worth $20 but the rest like designing new websites and creating brochures are worth more than $20.
I told my wife about it and after a long discussion (and being scolded for accepting work cheap) she said NO! That I should just demand payment for the work done, which I did, and just forget about it. I also asked other people’s opinion about it and they agreed that, even with my shortcomings, $20 for a website is too freaking low. Well, I do agree with them, $20 is only 800 pesos, with today’s exchange rate, and that is not cheap, that is inhuman. I asked because I wanted to know their opinion about it.
My wife said NO and she is right. It’s not worth it.
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It’s really cheap. At the moment I’m earning over $300 in 2 days with AdSense alone. I’m not always earning like that, but before Christmas is a good time for my sites and it already happened in the past. You should focus on designing websites for yourself that you can monetize with AdSense and affiliate programs such as CJ.com or plenty of others.
I stopped working for clients about 4 years ago and working for a boss about 7 years ago. I’m earning a decent living for european standards even with a strong Euro.
I’d really like to learn how that is done. I’ve designed headers for a client which I believe will be used for adsense sites but I don’t really know how that works. Thanks James.
That’s the problem when foreigners know that, in the Philippines, prices are relatively cheap. They pay less!
Yes, the cost of outsourcing in the Philippines is very small but they shouldn’t abuse it. The value of the peso is getting strong against the dollar but its purchasing power is still going down. Prizes of basic commodities continue to rise.
Thanks Gian. 
Melo,
Do you have a portfolio or some examples of your work? I am looking for someone to give my blog a unique look but I don’t have the skill.
If you are interested contact me at bpm2k@comcast.net
Thanks.
Hi Bill, Please visit http://www.romelo.com/portfolio/
Thanks.
Hi Melo,
Over the long term, try to focus on a fewer number of clients who will pay a decent price. And so that it is always fair to both parties involved, always get an upfront payment (at least 10%, non-refundable) and additional payments (at least 30% to 50%) upon showing the initial designs.
You may end up with 100 bad custoemrs for every 1 good customer that you work with. Build up those 1’s and you’ll end up with a good customer base.
[...] web and print work like websites, brochures, posters, etc. I conferred my decision to my wife (she scolded me bad when I told her about the rate) and a few friends and they were right, even with my shortcomings, a rate of less than $20 for a [...]